36/1/4/1/200800212
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1925
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 21 NOVEMBER 2008
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 33/2008)
Date reply submitted: 12 December 2008
Adv P S Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security:
(a) How many incidents of (i) abuse of power, (ii) dereliction of duty, (iii) misconduct or (iv) criminal behaviour have been reported against the members of the VIP Unit(s) in each of the past five years, (b) what are the relevant details in each case, (c) what has been the outcome of any (i) disciplinary hearings, (ii) criminal prosecutions and (iii) any other action taken in respect of each case, (d) how many members of the VIP Unit(s) have been (i) dismissed or (ii) suspended for misconduct in each of the past five years and (e) what steps are being taken to improve discipline within the VIP Unit(s)?
NW2725E
REPLY:
VIP protection is rendered by two components of the South African Police Service, namely VIP Protection Services (935 members) and the Static and Mobile Security Services (2 371 members).
2008/2009
(a)(i) Abuse of power - 1
(a)(ii) Dereliction of duty - 0
(a)(iii) Misconduct - 15
(a)(iv) Criminal behaviour - 14
|
|
(b) relevant details |
(c)(i) outcome of disciplinary hearings |
(c)(ii) outcome of criminal prosecutions |
(c)(iii) any other action |
|
1 |
Attempted murder and assault |
guilty |
pending |
none |
|
2 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
3 |
Murder |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
4 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
5 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not guilty |
pending |
none |
|
6 |
Pointing of firearm and damage to property |
not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
|
7 |
Reckless and negligent driving under the influence of alcohol |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
8 |
Misuse of state vehicle |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
9 |
Reckless and negligent driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol |
pending |
pending |
pending |
|
10 |
Drunken driving and reckless and negligent driving |
pending |
pending |
none |
|
11 |
Assault common |
pending |
pending |
arrested and detained |
|
12 |
Assault with intent to do grevious bodily harm (GBH) |
pending |
pending |
pending |
|
13 |
Assault GBH |
pending |
pending |
pending |
|
14 |
Assault GBH |
pending |
pending |
pending |
|
15 |
Assault GBH |
pending |
pending |
pending |
2007/2008
(a)(i) Abuse of power - 0
(a)(ii) Dereliction of duty - 0
(a)(iii) Misconduct - 5
(a)(iv) Criminal behaviour - 5
|
|
(b) relevant details |
(c)(i) outcome of disciplinary hearings |
(c)(ii) outcome of criminal prosecutions |
(c)(iii) any other action |
|
1 |
Murder and attempted murder |
none |
none |
member bought his discharge (resigned) from the SAPS |
|
2 |
Pointing of firearm |
written warning |
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) declined to prosecute |
none |
|
3 |
Reckless and negligent driving under the influence |
guilty |
guilty |
member appealed |
|
4 |
Malicious damage to property and Assault GBH |
written warning |
case withdrawn |
none |
|
5 |
Armed robbery |
case withdrawn |
case withdrawn |
none |
2006/2007
(a)(i) Abuse of power - 1
(a)(ii) Dereliction of duty - 2
(a)(iii) Misconduct - 25
(a)(iv) Criminal behaviour - 21
|
|
(b) relevant details |
(c)(i) outcome of disciplinary hearings |
(c)(ii) outcome of criminal prosecutions |
(c)(iii) any other action |
|
1 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not applicable |
none |
the private party was charged |
|
2 |
Assault and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol |
suspended |
guilty |
none |
|
3 |
Drunken driving |
suspended |
guilty |
none |
|
4 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
written warning |
guilty |
none |
|
5 |
Attempted murder |
none |
none |
case withdrawn |
|
6 |
Murder |
none |
none |
member bought his discharge (resigned) |
|
7 |
Statutory offence |
guilty |
pending |
none |
|
8 |
Rape |
none |
none |
case withdrawn |
|
9 |
Attempted murder |
suspended |
guilty |
none |
|
10 |
Absent from duty without permission |
guilty |
none |
none |
|
11 |
Indecent assault and perjury |
guilty |
guilty |
none |
|
12 |
Failed to report for duty |
fined |
none |
none |
|
13 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
none |
none |
none |
|
14 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
written warning |
guilty |
none |
|
15 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
none |
none |
none |
|
16 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
none |
none |
none |
|
17 |
Assault common |
none |
none |
none |
|
18 |
Drunken driving |
suspended |
guilty |
none |
|
19 |
Drunken driving |
suspended |
guilty |
loss recovered from member |
|
20 |
Drunken driving |
suspended |
guilty |
none |
|
21 |
Unauthorised use and damage to state property |
none |
none |
case withdrawn |
|
22 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
none |
none |
none |
|
23 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
member paid admission of guilt |
none |
none |
|
24 |
Attempted murder |
pending |
pending |
pending |
2005/2006
(a)(i) Abuse of power - 5
(a)(ii) Dereliction of duty - 0
(a)(iii) Misconduct - 11
(a)(iv) Criminal behaviour - 6
|
|
(b) relevant details |
(c)(i) outcome of disciplinary hearings |
(c)(ii) outcome of criminal prosecutions |
(c)(iii) any other action |
|
1 |
Displayed insolent attitude towards another employee |
suspended for 12 months |
none |
none |
|
2 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not guilty |
Senior Public Prosecutor (SPP) declined to prosecute |
none |
|
3 |
Unlawful discrimination, used threatening and insulting language, sexual demand, falsely imputed improper demeanour, unlawfully and intentionally partook in liquor while on duty |
found guilty and fined |
none |
none |
|
4 |
Disobeyed a red traffic light without valid reason |
found guilty -verbal warning |
none |
none |
|
5 |
Failed to comply with a national order/ Unauthorised use of state property |
found guilty -dismissal suspension for six months |
none |
|
|
6 |
Went off duty without being relieved |
found guilty -verbal warning |
none |
none |
|
7 |
Damage to state vehicle |
found guilty -verbal warning |
none |
none |
|
8 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not guilty |
member tried to avoid the incident |
case opened against private party |
|
9 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not guilty |
none |
none |
|
10 |
Accident with state vehicle |
suspended for 12 months |
none |
none |
|
11 |
Reckless and negligent driving |
not guilty |
member tried to avoid the accident |
none |
(d)(i)-(ii) For the last five years two members were dismissed and five members were suspended from the VIP unit.
(e) The Disciplinary Regulations of the SAPS prescribe both remedial and punitive measures which are used as reactive responses to incidents of misconduct. In addition, members are subjected to proactive measures including in-service courses such as disciplinary management, customer service and labour relations. Personnel are also debriefed in sessions with commanders where performance is reviewed and incidents and deviations discussed with the objective of preventing misconduct and improving operational functioning.
Reply to question 1925 approved by Minister
